1. Diapers and wipes
2. Extra Outfit and socks
3. Peace Pipe
4. Bottle, additional breastmilk/formula
5. Baby toiletries
6. Blanket/bib cloth
7. Toy(s)
So I've repacked and organized the diaper bag several times. The items, minus the blanket and bib cloth, are tucked away in Ziploc bags. That way, I can a) find them easier b)loose milk or other items that could spill/explode won't get on them (and I've already had breastmilk bottle let loose on the bag, not fun to smell or clean, but at least it wasn't poo).
But Friday night, as we made our way out to Kol Nidre service at Shir Chadash in Metairie, one essential item was missing and we wouldn't find out about it until it was too late. Lilly was asleep when JJ and I put her into the car seat. She slept for the entire 15-20 minute ride out to Metairie. And she stayed asleep for services, well, that is until about halfway through the Rabbi's sermon. Rabbi Linden was speaking about the state of Israel, and she was starting to stir. It's a solemn, reverent, quiet atmosphere inside the synagogue. And as she's stirring, she likes to make baby grunting noises. So what's the easiest way to silence those noises?
Ahh, the peace pipe.
So I start searching for the pacifier. Looking inside the car seat, where we like to keep it handy, so if we need to get it while driving. And it's not there. So it must be in the diaper bag. I start going through the Ziplocs. I pull out the blanket and diaper cloths. My heart is starting to sink while her grunts are getting louder. I can tell she's not happy about being in the car seat but it's practical for where she is. But she doesn't get that, and I can't very well tell her during the Rabbi's sermon. So I look at my mom, and say I don't think we brought it. She looks again, to double check my finding.
And now Lilly not only wants out of her car seat but she's hungry. And now starting to cry. And the peace pipe would quiet her until this happens. But no. No peace pipe. We unbuckle her and get her out of the car seat. I put the black Storksak Diaper Bag over my right shoulder and take her to the back of the room.
She likes to be held (who doesn't?), so once she was in my arms she quieted down. Luckily I found the additional breast milk and bottle, and she sucked it down (it was a little under 2 ounces). She was still hungry. So we moved to the travel Formula bottle. Similac Formula has these small 1 1/2 travel bottles, with ready to go liquid, you don't need a microwave or water. Problem with these bottles are the nipples, it comes out too fast for her, so I always like to bring one of her bottles and put it in there. Otherwise, the grayish/beige liquid would be all over her and me. So I got my mom out of her seat and asked her to help me pour the liquid into Lilly's bottle. Once this happens and she's got the liquid fuel, Lilly's good to go. The Rabbi is coming to sermon's end. But the peace pipe is not with us. And peace pipes and babies = good, happy times. It's a soothing mechanism. For all parties.
We stay in the back, feed her, change her, burp her, and hold her. She's getting tired. I've looked in the prayer book, and know that we need to get to page 249, that's the end of tonight's service. When we got there, we were on page 215. Now it's 235. And he's skipping around and seemingly moving towards concluding prayers. And like I said, she's getting tired, which means, if she's not sleeping soon, she will get fussy. If you remember, this is still the day where she threw up. She's been farting like there's no tomorrow. And still has a ton of gas/burping in her.
So we decide to leave. We get our stuff, diaper bag, JJ's purse, car seat, and Lilly, and head out to the car. The motion is normally soothing for Lilly. She will fall asleep. But not tonight. She needs something to soothe her before the motion will work. And that would be the peace pipe, but its at home, in the napper, we found out, once we got back.
My mom comes up with a genius solution. Take one of the nipples from the travel bottle and use it as a pseudo pacifier. So we unwrap one and stick it in her mouth. She sucks on it. Soothes her a bit. And we get in the car and start the trek home.
Once strapped into her car seat, Lilly decides she needs to burp. And this burp is causing her pain. We're now driving south on the Causeway, passing the I-10 exits and her screams and cries are getting louder, and she's peaking with anger, pain, and frustration. Her breaths are becoming a bit shallow as she puts all her energy into crying. Ahh, the damn peace pipe. Why are you in the napper? I'm in the right lane (it's two lanes on each side), going about 30 mph (speed limit 40), and the cries are louder. She's wailing. My hands are at 10 and 2. I'm gripping the steering wheel. I ask my mom if we should pull over. She says it's probably a good idea. But unfortunately we are 2 miles from being able to do so.
JJ pulls Lilly out of the car seat, holds her, burps her, and places her back in. She's stealth. I'm amazed she can do this all. It usually takes me opening the car door, getting her out of the car seat, and doing the same to place her back in. I don't have the moves to do it from the back seat. With my amazement also came nervousness, she's out of her seat. What if something happens? What if the cops see us and pull us over? But luckily none of that happened and she was back in her seat in a flash.
However, the peace my mom created, by holding and burping her, didn't last too long. We're now like 5-6 minutes from the house. We are now back in Orleans Parish, driving along River Road, and she's getting mad again. Those damn burps. And I just want to power through. We're so close. But she's so mad. So damn mad. And she's working herself up. Her cries are louder. Her fists balled into anger. Body rigid with her stress. We pass the zoo. And I know we've got about 1 mile left. We can do this. I can tune out her cries and screams. Hands stay gripped at 10 and 2.
And while it seemed like a very long mile, we pass it, and get home. My mom has already unbuckled her, and has her in her arms. I get the car seat. Lilly quiets down. And peace it seems is already becoming restored.
I pass the pink and purple pacifier on my way to the den. Just sitting quietly in the napper. Lilly is enjoying being held. I get the peace pipe from the napper and bring it with me to couch. I give it to JJ, should she need it, to soothe Lilly. Nope, as it turns out, she's fine, loving being in JJ's arms. Peace pipe not needed. Damn.
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